Staff

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With a background in music and theatre, Miss Joanna brings our K5 classroom to life with music and song!  Students learn weekly Bible verses through daily practice with music and hand motions. Miss Joanna is an incredible phonics teacher and is passionate about helping children learn to love reading.  She has one son Elijah and lives in Opelika.  

Lauren Dowdell is from Hatchechubbee, AL. She graduated from Lee-Scott Academy and then attended Auburn University where she received her B.S. in Elementary Education. She has since received additional training and development in the Science of Reading. She has taught kindergarten in Opelika City and first grade in Lee County. 

Lauren currently lives in Society Hill with her husband of 3 years, James, and she is a lifelong member of Society Hill Methodist Church. She enjoys reading, walking her dog, crafting, and spending time with friends and family. She is so excited to learn and grow with her students both academically and spiritually at The Oaks!

Ashley Jeffares is from from Reeltown, AL, where she graduated from high school in 2002. She attended Southern Union with a scholarship and then transferred to Troy University main campus where I received her B.S. in K-6 Elementary and Collaborative Education. She returned to Troy after her teaching career began and received her Masters in K-6 Elementary Education. Ashley taught at Beauregard Elementary for 11 years, teaching all subjects in 3rd grade. She and her husband, Tony have been married for 12 years. The Lord has blessed them with three beautiful, little girls, Kelsi, Klaira, and Kendall. She enjoys reading, going to the lake or the beach, and just being outdoors in general. Ashely will be teaching for her sixth year at The Oaks.  

Amanda is originally from Beauregard and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Auburn University. She and her husband moved to Warner Robins, GA, where she taught public school for 3 years. There, she earned her Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Walden University. She and her family moved back to Auburn 11 years ago. She has homeschooled her 4 daughters for 4 years and is excited to be at The Oaks! 

Karla Amos has enjoyed a varied teaching career over the past three decades. She has taught private swim lessons for 30 years, overlapping with Physical Education for 13 years, Reading Intervention for 3 years, and homeschooled for 9 years. 

She holds a Master's degree in Physical Education as well as a Reading Specialist degree.

She lives in Wetumpka, AL with her husband, Doug, their daughter, Reyn, and a herd of 7 dogs and 1 bird (Elvira).

Mrs. Karla loves bringing hands-on activities to math and helps students grasp new concepts in practical ways.  

Jessica Keyes is a native of Reeltown, AL. She attended CACC and Troy University where she studied Finance. She has is also the author of four faith based illustrated books for children.  

With a lifelong love of gardening, Jessica specializes in growing heirloom cut flowers. She is inspired by the work of Charlotte Mason and strives to bring those core values into her classroom. She and her husband Kevin live in Liberty City with their boys, Beau and Baylor. 

Addie Hill is from Jasper, AL where she graduated from Walker High School in 1997.  She attended Auburn University and graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in secondary education, English and Spanish in 2001. She taught Language Arts at Drake Middle School from 2002 to 2011.  Addie and her husband, Brandon, have been married for twenty years and have three amazing children, Holden, Scarlett and Wylder. She enjoys running, oil painting, and reading. She looks forward to exploring, learning, and growing in Christ with your children!  She recently completed her 5th year of teaching at The Oaks and has been a true pioneer of our language arts program.  

Angela Reinhardt is from Southern California. She studied Communication with an emphasis on Journalism for four years at Cal Poly Pomona University and AUM. She also attended college at The University of the Nations for three years, where she intricately studied the Bible, as well as trained as a missionary. Through her missions work, she has called places like England, Egypt and Hawaii, home. Angela has been married for 17 years and has four children who attend The Oaks. She homeschooled her children for five years and has a passion for history and traveling. Currently, she is finishing a degree at Troy University, with a major in History and a minor in English. 

Tiffany graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor's degree in microbiology. She then went on to optometry school at UAB School of Optometry in Birmingham, AL. After earning her doctorate, Tiffany completed a residency in pediatric optometry. She has been practicing optometry in Opelika for almost 15 years. Tiffany, her husband, Nelson and three boys, David Nelson, Hendricks, and Brady, live in Waverly. She has a passion for caring for people and loves spending time with family. She enjoys hiking, snow skiing, cooking, “glamping,” traveling, and creative projects. Tiffany is excited to be teaching 9th/10th grade Geometry this year. 

Dillon Calhoun was born in Statesboro, GA and graduated with a BS in Mathematical Sciences from Georgia Southern University in 2024. Having a passion for mathematics from a young age, he hopes to bring an excitement for the subject to the classroom. He also loves running, going on adventures, and playing guitar. 

In addition to teaching, he also leads worship and coaches cross country at the Oaks. 

Married to the lovely Latoya Thomas w/ 2 girls and 2 boys. Coach Everett graduated from Auburn University in May 2003 with a BS (Exercise Science/Kinesiology). He was on the scout team under Coach Joe Champi, Auburn University Women’s Basketball Team from 2001-2002.  He was a teacher for 10 years, with coaching duties in Basketball, Soccer, and Football, and won a State Title in soccer 2009 at Lyman Ward Military Academy.  He won 4A area and reached final 4, 2 years straight and championship game as Head Basketball coach. He also was the Athletic Director at Lyman Ward Millitary Academy for 4 years. Started an athletic company called DSAA (District Silverbackz Athletic Association) that houses basketball training (SST), adult basketball, and 7 AAU basketball teams that competed at ESPN Center @ Walt Disney Resorts 2019.

Coach Everett will also be coaching Girl's Volleyball & Girl's Basketball.

Kellie Heidt will be teaching Middle School math and High School language arts this year. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Auburn University with a degree in International Studies and German. Kellie spent 25 years as a military wife while her husband served in the US Navy as an F 18 pilot. They have lived and traveled in many places, but now call the Auburn/Opelika area home. She has two precious children, William, 22, and Caroline, 17. Through the years, Kellie has taught different subjects in numerous Co-ops and Classical Conversations. She enjoys travel, reading, and spending time at Lake Martin.  

She will be working part-time this year as an Academic Advisor to our high school students.  She hopes to travel more with her husband, while playing a huge role in helping our students prepare for their next steps after high school.  

David was born and raised in Auburn, AL. He received his Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Auburn University. He received his Masters degree in Business Administration from AUM. David has owned and operated his own insurance business in the Auburn/Opelika area since 2001. David has a passion for youth sports and has coached basketball and baseball for the past 8 years in school, travel, and parks & recreation sports. 

David and his wife Jessica currently reside in Auburn with their two sons, Noah and Jonah who both attend The Oaks School. 

Ginger Hallmark  graduated from Auburn University with a BS and MS in Agricultural Economics with a focus on Economic Development. Ginger worked for five years as a grant writer for local governments. In 2011, she started Discovery Christian School, a homeschool cover school that is now serving over 250 families in the Auburn-Opelika area.  In 2018, she helped launch The Oaks School.  Ginger is passionate about creating a school culture where students feel loved and cared for, while being challenged to excel in their God-given strengths.

Ginger and her husband, Josh, also own a real estate company in Florida. She has four children who also attend The Oaks School.

Josh, from Boaz, AL has lived in the Auburn area for almost 30 years and has spent most of his adult life in organizational leadership. He graduated from Auburn University in Ag Economics where he met his wife, Ginger. In 2000 he completed Youth With a Mission's (YWAM) Discipleship Training School in Tyler, Texas where he was deeply impacted by God's love. 

He and his wife Ginger spent 14 years leading Chi Alpha, a university ministry at Auburn, and more than 10 years pastoring Campus Church and The Oaks Church. The Hallmarks have 4 children and have journeyed together in numerous other training, ministry and business ventures in their 23 years of marriage. They have truly partnered in life, ministry, business and now in education.

Josh is a lifelong learner and loves to pioneer new territory. He and Ginger started The Oaks School in 2018 to educate and empower tomorrow’s leaders in the marketplace and beyond. They are also real estate investors and own a real estate and vacation rental business on the Emerald Coast of Florida. 

One of Josh's favorite quotes is from Edwin Louis Cole: "Maturity does not come with age, but with the acceptance of responsibility."